The Lone Star State has sent more Republicans to Capitol Hill than any other state — 26 — at a time when Barack Obama remains in the White House and Democrats control the Senate.

“With the presidency and Senate in Democratic hands, 2013 will not be a year of substantial conservative public policy gains,” said Mark Jones, chairman of the political science department at Rice University. “The Texas GOP delegation will instead be involved in a rear-guard effort to prevent further Democratic and liberal policy advances while at the same time working to chip away at past Democratic policy successes.”

As Texas lawmakers gear up for the 2013 session of Congress, they are divided into distinctly partisan camps. Every member of the state's dominant Republican bloc was elected on the pledge to repeal the 2010 health care law known as Obamacare, a promise that can't be kept after Obama's Electoral College landslide.

Texas Democrats, mired in minority status in the House, lament that their GOP colleagues aren't willing to compromise on most major issues.

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Congressional Delegation: What to expect

SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R)

Hometown: San Antonio

Years in Congress: 10

Committees: Finance; Judiciary

Agenda: As the Senate GOP whip, Cornyn, 60, will be the partisan point man to critique President Barack Obama's Cabinet and Supreme Court selections. He also is seeking a showdown with the White House over raising the federal debt ceiling, using a partial government shutdown as leverage to force deep spending cuts. On immigration, he cites the need to fix our "broken system" but does not favor citizenship for any person now living in the country without proper documentation.

Agenda: On his first day in office, Cruz, 40, said his top priorities were (1) cutting spending, (2) reforming the federal tax code and (3) reducing federal regulations. A self-described "constitutional conservative," he said this about the gun-control debate: "I stand ready to defend the Second Amendment and efforts to undermine our God-given rights." And he says he will "work creatively" in an attempt to "prevent the implementation of Obamacare."

REP. JOAQUÍN CASTRO (D)

Hometown: San Antonio

Years in Congress: Newly elected

Committees: Armed Services; Foreign Relations

Agenda: Castro, 38, was elected president of the class of House Democratic freshmen and said he would use his position on the Armed Services panel to protect military personnel and interests in San Antonio, which includes four major bases and installations. Castro said his first legislative goal would be a bill that would help students attain higher education

REP. HENRY CUELLAR (D)

Hometown: Laredo

Years in Congress: 8

Committees: Appropriations

Agenda: Cuellar, 57, was renamed to his House Democratic leadership position of vice chairman of the Steering and Policy Committee and was placed by Democratic leaders on the Appropriations Committee, the panel that oversees all spending. Cuellar, the only Texas Democrat on the committee, said he would fight for middle-class families and small businesses. He has introduced a balanced budget amendment that would prohibit the federal government from spending in excess of the total amount of revenues each year.

REP. LLOYD DOGGETT (D)

Hometown: Austin

Years in Congress: 18

Committees: Budget; Ways and Means

Agenda: As a member of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, Doggett, 66, said he would defend Social Security, Medicare and the newly passed Affordable Health Care Act against cuts and repeal. He's leading Democrats against a Republican proposal that would increase the eligibility age for Medicare and has said he would introduce legislation that would expand the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

REP. PETE GALLEGO (D)

Hometown: Alpine

Years in Congress: Newly Elected

Committees: Armed Services; Agriculture

Agenda: The new Agriculture Committee member pledged to advocate for ranchers, farmers and rural families. Gallego, 51, also said he would use his position on the Armed Forces panel to work for military installations and personnel in the congressional district that includes bases in San Antonio, Del Rio and El Paso.

REP. LAMAR SMITH (R)

Hometown: San Antonio

Years in Congress: 26

Committees: Chairman of Science Space and Technology; Judiciary

Agenda: Smith, 65, has pledged to protect defense spending from massive cuts under any deficit-reduction deal in Congress that does not include reform to entitlement programs. As chairman of the Science Committee, he would promote legislation that encourages scientific discoveries, space exploration and the application of new technologies to expand the economy and create jobs.

“All of us are at a point where we should give consideration to how we play well together,” said Rep. Al Green, a Houston Democrat. “I want to be able to work from that sensible center out and forge a consensus.”

Despite a deep divide on most issues, Texas lawmakers say they haven't lost their fabled ability to unite on issues vital to the state, from military construction in San Antonio to NASA funding for Houston, from the Red River Army Depot in East Texas to the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

“The bottom line is: If something is important to Texas, I can count on every Texan to jump on board,” said Rep. Pete Olson, a Republican from Sugar Land.

Nowhere is that unity more powerful than on energy policy, where the state's delegation is committed to push legislation that would expand domestic energy production and oppose Obama administration attempts to eliminate tax breaks for the energy industry.

But while the delegation size translates into outsized influence, academics say the state's power has waned in recent decades.

As Texas' House Republicans are trying to rein in unruly hardliners, the state's two GOP senators — Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn and rising-star freshman Ted Cruz — already have emerged as leading figures in the Republican resistance to the Obama agenda. But as Cruz noted recently, the prospects for a productive session of Congress are cloudy, at best.

“With divided government, either party can effectively ensure that nothing is done,” he said.

gmartin@express-news.net

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